Origins and history of Kihei focus of presentation

January 19, 2014

Lucienne de Naie will present a lecture on the origins and history of Kihei from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Monday at Hope Chapel in Kihei as part of the Waimahaihai District Neighborhood Association meeting.

De Naie, a Hawaii researcher, historian and speaker, was part of a group of cultural and environmental researchers who wrote a 401-page report about Makena's significance to Native Hawaiians.

"My topic will be the history of the Kihei area, also known as 'Kula Kai' with a focus on the Waimahaihai and Kamaole districts," said de Naie. "I'll reveal what has been documented and what areas can be further researched."

She will bring maps to help illustrate landmarks that define South Maui.

De Naie cites that one area in South Maui named Kaeo was likely South Maui's most populated and farmed region.

As many as 10,000 people lived there in pre-contact times.

De Naie was one of the collaborators of "Project Kaeo: The Challenge to Preserve Cultural Landscapes in Modern Makena."

It is available in local libraries on CD-ROM.

The researchers, who included Kukahiko Foundation President Maile Luuwai, investigated 1,000 acres of South Maui from Makena Landing to Pu'u Olai and up the mountainside to Ulupalakua Ranch.